Wanda Jackson

Singer/songwriter Wanda Jean Jackson has enjoyed a long and successful music career which encompasses such diverse genres as country, gospel, and rockabilly. Wanda was born on October 20, 1937 in Maud, Oklahoma. Her father Tom was a former country singer who had to quit music because of the Great Depression. Jackson got her first guitar from her dad while living in California from 1941 to 1947. At age 12 Wanda and her family moved back to Oklahoma City. She won a local talent show contest in 1952 and got her own radio show on KLPR, which she hosted while attending high school. Jackson recorded several songs with the country group The Brazos Valley Boys in the 1950's; her duet "You Can't Have My Love" with band leader Billy Gray was a #8 country hit in 1954. Wanda met Elvis Presley while touring the country in 1956; Presley encouraged her to start recording rockabilly songs. Jackson's rousing "Fujiyama Mama" was a huge smash in Japan; it remained at #1 on the radio charts for six weeks.